Best yarn bowls for knitting and crochet
Here at Gathered we love a yarn bowls, but if you've never heard of them before and are wondering what is a yarn bowl... well, it's as it sounds, a bowl for your yarn!
But what's the point of them, and how do they differ from a regular bowl?
What is a yarn bowl?
Yarn bowls (which may also be called a knitting bowl or wool bowl) are a fantastic product for knitters and crocheters, and they come in a huge range of sizes, styles and materials.
The main purpose of a yarn bowl is that it keeps your ball of yarn in place. When you're busy knitting or crocheting, as you pull on your yarn it's easy for your balls to roll off or get tangled, gathering dust on the floor, finding it's way under the sofa, somehow wrapping itself around table legs... or worse - becoming a play toy for your cats!
How does a yarn bowl work?
Yarn bowls normally have a curved cut into them which makes them different to regular bowls, and this is where your yarn is threaded through.
As you pull on the yarn as you work, the yarn will come through this cut but the ball will stay neatly in the yarn bowl (often spinning around inside the bowl). Some bowls also come with handy holes for your needles or hooks too.
Why should I use a yarn bowl?
As well as keeping your yarn in one place, another advantage of using a yarn bowl is when you are using two yarns together, as these can easily become entangled with each other - but storing one (or both) in a yarn bowl means you'll cut down on those nasty tangles!
They make fantastic gifts for the crocheter or knitter in your life, or just as a well-deserved treat for yourself.
One of the main things we love about yarn bowls is that there are a huge range of independent makers that produce them, from ceramicists to woodturners, so buying a yarn bowl is a great way of supporting small artisan makers.
We've tried to include a range of yarn bowls at different prices in this list, but remember that a lot of these products are handmade unique items created by skilled crafts people, so it's worth the investment for something so special.
How big is a yarn bowl?
It's important to look closely at the dimensions when choosing the best yarn bowl for you as they come in all sorts of different sizes. As a general rule your average yarn bowl will measure around 5 - 7 inches in diameter, which is normally big enough for most knitter and crocheters (as an example, it should fit an average sized yarn cake, a couple of 50g balls of cotton yarn, or a skein wound into a ball).
If you're fan of using particularly big balls of yarn (for example, a 100g ball of DK yarn or bigger) or multiple balls at the same time, then you may want to look into getting a larger bowl as they may not fit in smaller bowls.
The Best Yarn Bowls for Knitting & Crochet
1. Simple Wooden yarn bowl
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Yarn bowls mostly come in one of two materials - wood or ceramics (although we've included an interesting alternative at the end of this post).
While we do love ceramic yarn bowls, they can be quite fragile - which is a concern for us clumsy folks, and speaking from experience it's heartbreaking when you knock your special ceramic bowl off the table.
But you can always go for a natural wooden yarn bowl if you're after a bowl that's a bit sturdier and has that natural feel to it. These simple wooden yarn bowls for knitting and crochet are made from mango wood which really shows off the grain of the wood, and measuring 7 inches in diameter it should be wide enough to accommodate most yarn balls.
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2. Bamboo yarn box
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We thought we'd show you something a little different for our second bowl... so different in fact that it's not a bowl at all!
This bamboo yarn box is an interesting and practical take on the traditional yarn bowl. It still has that spiral cut section for you to thread your yarn through, but also has a lid to ensure your yarn stays in the box (and doubles up as a bit of extra protection and as a perch if you've got cats in the house), plus the flat base means it'll be nice and sturdy too.
The photos do perhaps make it look bigger than it is, but it does claim to be able to contain most 100g balls and with an internal height and width of 6.75 inches you should definitely be able to get smaller balls and maybe your current work-in-progress inside it.
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3. Cat fabric wool holder
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We've had a bowl and a box, so how about a bag to keep your yarn in?
This delightful cotton wool holder by Hobby Gift is perfect for keeping your wool neat and tidy while you're working, with an eyelet on the top for you to thread your yarn through.
It's also great for taking with you if you're knitting or crocheting on the move or just switching rooms, and as much as we love the playful kitty design it'll make sure your yarn is kept safely stashed away from your own cats!
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4. Barruntundo ceramic yarn bowls
Available from Etsy
Onto our first ceramic bowl now, and there's so many beautiful bowls to choose from! We love these sweet yarn bowls by Barruntundo ceramics, which are handmade in Spain by a collective of female designers and come in a range of different styles and decorations.
5. NormsWoodCraft yarn bowls
Available from Etsy
If you're after a wooden yarn bowl that is full of character, then you've got to check our NormsWoodCraft's bowls.
These big and chunky wooden yarn bowls for knitting and crochet are hand carved and are tall and sturdy enough that you can use them as floor-standing bowls.
You can also order custom-spec hand-carved yarn bowls, and each bowl also comes with the added option to add a charming wooden mouse!
6. Personalised ceramic yarn bowl
Available from Etsy
When it comes to buying presents for knitter and crocheters, it can sometimes be tricky... but trust us, buy them one of these personalised ceramic yarn bowls and they'll treasure it forever!
You can customise your message, colours and designs on your order, making it a really unique and personal gift.
7. KnitPro Signature Yarn Dispenser
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If you're looking to keep your yarn organised but fancy something a little different, you could try this fancy Signature Yarn Dispenser from KnitPro.
These clever holders are sometimes also referred to as a 'yarn butler', and allows you to place your yarn onto the removable spike and then gently and smoothly rotates as you pull off more yarn with each stitch.
The anti-slip rubber base ensures your yarn dispenser stays in place, and high-quality bearings ensure smooth yarn movement without snags or pulls.
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8. LittleWren Ceramic yarn bowl
Available from Etsy
How cute are these bunny yarn bowls by LittleWrenCeramics?! Available in a range of different colours and glazes, these hand-thrown bowls are made by Victoria in North Yorkshire, and there's a few other options available including adding a customised message to you yarn bowl.
9. Dom's pottery yarn bowls
Available from Etsy
Doms Pottery have a wonderful range of different yarn bowls available, all hand made and made to order.
From beautiful colourful glazes, fun and funky cut-out shape details and even some jumbo yarn bowls, whatever style you're looking for you're sure to find the perfect yarn bowl for you!
10. Knitting effect yarn bowl
Available from Etsy
Everyone will know exactly what that fancy bowl on your table is for, thanks to it's gorgeous knitting stitch effect decoration!
These clever yarn bowls by Charan Sachar feature the classic slit for your yarn plus some cute decorative buttons, but are also built in an oval shape with a flat base to help make them super-stable!
11. Lantern Moon Knit Out box
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Here's another yarn box for you to try, but this funky design from Lantern Moon is made from fabulous fabric instead!
Made from sumptuous modal satin, this 12cm (5") box has a keyhole opening which allows yarn to feed seamlessly from within. We also like that it has a lid with a button hole fastening to keep your yarn safely contained and dust free.
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12. FoxRosalita yarn bowls
Available from Etsy
We love the earthy tones and nature-inspired decoration on these fabulous ceramic yarn bowls by FoxRosalita. Handmade and hand-painted in Riga, Latvia, they'd make a fabulous gift for the knitter or crocheter in your life.
13. TheWrightWoodCo Yarn bowls
Available from Etsy
This wooden yarn bowl is not only made from gorgeous Indian Rosewood, but also features an amazing effect that is achieved by fractal burning - a process using electricity to create fabulous burned cracks which are then filled with colourful resin.
These wooden yarn bowls for knitting & crochet are hand-made in India using ethically sourced wood, and as well as these beautiful bowls they also have some other plain wood bowls too.
14. Ceramic art yarn bowls
Available from Etsy
If you want to treat yourself to a true work of art (that also conveniently doubles up as a knitting or crochet bowl), then you've got to check out the amazing ceramic creations by Orna Shoham Avrutzky.
Her amazing hand painted sculptures all feature animals and come in a wide range of styles, and each yarn bowl is truly a one-off unique and original product!
15. Raku ceramic yarn bowl
Available from Etsy
Here's another yarn bowl producer that really does create works of art! These yarn bowls by Federico Becchetti do come with a pretty hefty price tag, but you are paying for a true piece of expert craftsmanship and artistry.
These bowls are handmade to order in your own choice of colours, but it's the Raku effect that really does it for us - Raku is a process where the item is exposed to extremes in temperature which creates interesting cracks and effects made by chemical reactions on the final glaze - it's also an incredibly risky firing process which takes a real expert crafts-person to master!
16. 3D printed yarn bowl
Available from Etsy
We've focussed on mostly ceramic or wooden yarn bowls so far, but there is another option - a 3D printed yarn bowl! These bowls are made from a high quality plastic by DansCraftShop, who also makes sure the bowls are polished perfectly to ensure your yarn doesn't snag on any edges.
As well as a couple of designs in the more traditional crochet & knitting bowl style, we particularly like this one with multiple holes as it could be used for a whole range of other purposes when you're not using it for yarn!
17. Voronoi Yarn Bowl
Available from Etsy
While taking a look at other 3D printed yarn bowls, we came across this incredible design that just blew our minds!
This incredible Voronoi yarn bowl is made from by heating polylactic acid (PLA), an eco-friendly, biodegradable polyester thermoplastic. With two size options (6 inch and 8 inch), the option to include the lid or not, and lots of fun colour choices, it's a really unique and stylish yarn bowl!
18. 3D Printed skull yarn bowl
Available from Etsy
Looking for a yarn bowl with a difference? Want to keep your wool in order and creep out your guests? Then look no further than this skull yarn bowl!
These macabre designs are 3D printed and come in a range of colours, from natural bone shades to rainbow blends and colour combo twists.
The perfect yarn bowl for every crafter
Once you start using a yarn bowl you won't know how you knitted or crocheted without one! They make managing your yarn so much easier, helping to keep it clean and tangle-free.
With so many different types to choose from, there's a yarn bowl to suit everyone. We hope you've found the one for you in our round-up.
Stylish storage ideas from Gathered
Now you've sorted your yarn at home, what about when you're out and about? Keep your projects neat and tidy with our guide to the best knitting bags and organisers.
